Thirty-Three
Rory took it as a good sign that Samira agreed to see him. He’d tried calling her after leaving his dad’s two days ago, but it had gone through to voice mail, so he’d left a message, and while she hadn’t called him back, she’d sent a text asking him to meet her at work on her lunch break today.
Lucky he’d been called in to meet with his agent yesterday for a rundown on his upcoming trip to north Queensland to scout out the Renegades location, because it took most of the day and kept his mind off dwelling on how much he’d screwed up when she’d told him about the baby.
Now, as he waited for her in the foyer so they could stroll to a nearby café, with the rattle in his jacket pocket, he hoped to make amends. While he still couldn’t see himself as a father and all that entailed, he needed to do right by her. Starting now.
The receptionist had left the front desk unattended. Then again, the place was quiet at this time of day. With its sleek ambience and excellent position in town, he expected the center to be busier. But technically, it was a start-up, so it would take time to build clientele. He’d happily sing its praises, considering Pia’s expertise had helped him land the biggest role of his career.
As if thinking about her conjured her up, he saw Pia slip into the corridor via a side door and glance furtively around. Guess that meant she hadn’t made up with Samira yet, because it looked like she was scanning her surroundings to avoid someone.
She caught sight of him, and he waved. She hesitated, but it would be rude to avoid him, so she strode down the corridor toward him.
“Hi, Rory, how are you?”
“Great, you?”
As she drew nearer, he had his answer before she spoke. Pia had looked like a supermodel during their sessions, with flawless makeup, glossy hair, and stylish Indian pants and loose flowing top combos. Today, no amount of concealer could hide the dark smudges under her eyes, her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and her skin looked dull rather than glowing.
“I’m okay.” She managed a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Thanks again for all the work you did with me. I’ll make sure to spread the word among colleagues who need dialect coaching.”
“Thanks.”
Rory heard a door open behind him, and by Pia’s startled look, it had to be Samira.
“I have to get back to work, Rory. Nice seeing you,” she said, turning away and all but breaking into a sprint to escape.
Man, Samira must really feel like crap if Pia was still avoiding her. He turned, not surprised to see Samira staring at Pia’s rapidly retreating back, sadness clouding her eyes.
“Hey,” he said, bundling her into his arms before she had a chance to say anything. She looked like she needed a hug, and he still felt shitty about the way he’d reacted to the baby news.
She melded to him, resting her head on his shoulder and sliding her arms around his waist. He liked the way they fit. It felt . . . right. He’d never felt this comfortable around a woman before. Maybe it had something to do with her maturity, but she didn’t play games like other women he’d dated. Though one or two dates didn’t equate with what he’d shared with Samira. They may not have spent a lot of time together, but it was the quality not quantity that counted.
And now a baby bound them. Interesting, that every time the thought pinged around his brain, he didn’t feel so stressed anymore.
He could do this.
He had no idea how long he held her, and when she finally eased away to blink up at him with wide eyes filled with uncertainty, he wished he could hold her some more.
“You okay?”
She nodded. “You give the best hugs.”
He smiled, placed his finger under her chin, and tipped it up. “And the best kisses.”
He grazed his lips across hers, once, twice, clamping down on the urge to devour her when what she needed right now was tenderness.
She sighed against his mouth before snuggling into him again, holding on tight.
“You feel good,” he murmured, pressing his lips to her hair. “How is it possible that we haven’t known each other long yet it feels like a lifetime?”
She stiffened for a moment, before straightening to look him in the eye. “Not only are your hugs and kisses pretty damn good, but you know the right thing to say exactly when I need to hear it.”
“Not always,” he said, with a slight wince. “I’m sorry about how I reacted to the baby news. I was a jerk.”
She placed a finger against his lips to silence him. “No, you were stunned, and I don’t blame you for asking what I planned on doing.” She bit down on her bottom lip. “Considering the brevity of our relationship, I should’ve expected it. We barely know each other, we live on different continents, I guess it’s only natural.”
She was letting him off lightly, and they both knew it. “Shall we go have lunch and talk about our baby?”
Her eyes sparked when he said “our baby,” and he smiled. “I may have been an idiot when I first heard the news, but I’d like to make amends if you’ll let me.”
“Let’s go,” she said, slipping her hand into his. But as she fell into step beside him, he saw her cast a longing glance down the corridor toward Pia’s office.
That was one problem he couldn’t fix, but he hoped these two amazing women resolved their differences soon.
* * *
* * *
It didn’t surprise him that neither of them were hungry and ordered coffees instead.
They had a lot to talk about.
“I’ve got something for you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the rattle, which he’d polished to gleaming. “It used to be mine.”
He placed it on the table between them, where it shone in the café’s muted downlights. “It’s an apology of sorts, because I’m not proud of the way I reacted when I first heard the news.” He nudged it toward her. “I don’t know the history behind the rattle, but it looks ancient, and it’ll be nice for the baby to have something of mine.”
He wondered if she’d understand the questions he was hedging around: Would she return to Melbourne permanently? Would he have a chance to parent his child?
Her eyes sparked with understanding. Smart woman. “I haven’t made any decisions regarding where I’ll live after the baby is born.”
She picked up the rattle and shook it, eliciting a soft tinkle. “And this is beautiful. Thank you.” Heat suffused her cheeks. “It means a lot to have your support.”